JP4027399B2 - Lens holding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens holding device that holds a lens in a lens barrel.

  In various optical devices such as cameras, a lens barrel structure is used as an efficient structure for fixing a lens with high accuracy. For example, as a method of fixing a lens having a circular shape, a lens barrel having an inner diameter that is approximately equal to the diameter of the lens or smaller than the diameter of the lens is used.

  In addition, a structure as shown in FIG. 7 is used for fixing a lens used in an optical apparatus or the like that requires extremely high precision assembly (see Patent Document 1). In this conventional example, an inclined portion 103 inclined in the direction of the optical axis K is provided on the inner wall portion of the lens barrel 102, and the lens 101 is pushed in from the opening 107 larger than the lens outer diameter in the optical axis direction (press-fit). . The lens 101 is held in the lens barrel 102 by engaging the inclined surface of the outer peripheral portion 105 of the lens 101 with the inclined portion 103 of the inner wall portion of the lens barrel 102 at a position where the lens 101 is fixed.

  In this holding structure, the opening 107 which is an entrance for pushing the lens 101 is wider than the opening 108 on the opposite side, and the lens fixing portion 104 between the openings 107 and 108 is engaged with the lens outer peripheral portion 105. To do. Thereby, the lens 101 does not move with respect to the lens barrel 102, and the lens 101 can be easily fixed to the lens barrel 102.

  However, in the above conventional example, it is necessary to process the outer peripheral portion 105 of the lens 101 and the inner wall portion 102A of the lens barrel 102 with extremely high accuracy. The reason is that if an error occurs in the angle at which each of the outer peripheral portion 105 of the lens 101 and the fixing portion 104 of the lens barrel 102 is inclined with respect to the optical axis direction, the lens 101 is fixed in the lens barrel 102. This is because the position greatly deviates from the predetermined position.

  In the above conventional example, although the work for assembling the lens 101 to the lens barrel 102 is easy, the cost is increased due to the high-precision processing, the processing work is not easy, and the assembly work as a whole is efficient. Not right.

In addition, when the lens 101 is made of glass and the lens barrel 102 is made of a soft material such as resin, in the process of assembling the lens 101 from a wide portion of the inner wall portion 102A to a narrow portion. There is a risk that the inner wall portion 102A of the lens barrel 102 is scraped at the point where the lens 101 contacts the inner wall portion 102A of the lens barrel 102. When the inner wall portion 102A of the lens barrel 102 is shaved, the tilt and eccentricity of the lens 101 with respect to the lens barrel 102 are affected unexpectedly by accumulation of shavings and the like generated from the lens barrel 102, and the lens is fixed at a predetermined position. Cannot be expected. Further, the shavings may adhere to the lens surface and cause a decrease in optical performance.
JP 2002-250853 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lens holding device capable of improving the positional accuracy for fixing a lens to a lens barrel.

In order to solve the above problems, a lens holding device according to the present invention includes a lens barrel having an opening at least in one of the optical axis directions, and at least one lens fixed by being press-fitted into the lens barrel from the one opening. With
The lens barrel extends from the one opening to the other in the optical axis direction, and from the tapered inner peripheral surface to the other in the optical axis direction. And a holding surface that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the lens and holds the lens, and further extends inward in the radial direction intersecting the holding surface and the other in the optical axis direction of the lens. A positioning portion including a contact surface that contacts the surface from the outside in the radial direction and positions the lens in the optical axis direction is provided.

  According to the lens holding device of the present invention, the lens is press-fitted into the lens barrel in the direction in which the inner diameter of the tapered inner peripheral surface increases from one opening, and the lens is brought into contact with the positioning portion at a predetermined position. And the holding surface comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lens to hold the lens. Therefore, the holding state in which the lens is held at a predetermined position in the lens barrel can be easily and reliably achieved, and the positioning of the lens can be made extremely accurate.

  When the lens is press-fitted from one opening in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel, the tapered inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel increases in diameter toward the other in the optical axis direction. The risk that the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel is shaved can be suppressed. Therefore, stable lens press-fitting and lens holding with respect to the lens barrel can be realized. At the same time, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of tilting of the lens due to the influence of shaving and the like, and the possibility that the shaving and the like adheres to the lens surface, thereby preventing deterioration of the optical characteristics.

  The lens holding device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of lenses that are press-fitted and fixed in the lens barrel, and is further disposed between the two lenses adjacent to each other in the optical axis direction. A spacer is provided that defines a distance therebetween.

  According to the lens holding device of this embodiment, since the spacer defines the distance between two lenses adjacent to each other in the optical axis direction, a lens holding device in which a plurality of lenses are accurately positioned in the lens barrel can be realized.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, the lens is press-fitted into the tapered inner peripheral surface from one opening in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel, and is elastically deformed in the lens barrel. Is retained.

  According to the lens holding device of this embodiment, even when the lens is held on the holding surface of the lens barrel, the lens is fixed by the elastic force of the lens barrel. Become. Therefore, as long as the elastic force of the lens barrel is not lost, it is possible to hold the lens with reduced eccentricity regardless of the deviation of the outer diameter of the lens.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, since the spacer is integral with the lens barrel, assembly is easy.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, since the spacer is a separate body from the lens barrel, the distance between the lenses can be changed by exchanging the spacer.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, since the positioning portion is integral with the lens barrel, there is no fear that the positioning portion is displaced from or detached from the lens barrel.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, since the positioning part is separate from the lens barrel and attached to the lens barrel, the lens is removed from the holding surface by removing the positioning part from the lens barrel. By further pushing in toward the other side in the optical axis direction, the lens can be easily taken out from the other opening of the lens barrel.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, since the inner peripheral surface of the one opening in the optical axis direction has a chamfered portion, it is easy to press-fit the lens.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, since the lens is made of glass or resin, when it is made of glass, the lens has a high refractive index and can be thinned, resulting in a lens with little secular change, and resin. In the case of a lens made, it is light and difficult to break and easy to process.

  In one embodiment of the lens holding device, the lens barrel has an inner peripheral surface showing a substantially circular shape in a cross section by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis, and the lens has a cross sectional shape by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis. Has a cross-section that is substantially circular.

  According to this embodiment, a substantially circular lens barrel and a substantially circular lens are provided, and a lens holding device having a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole is obtained.

  Moreover, in the lens holding device of one embodiment, the lens barrel has an inner peripheral surface showing a substantially elliptical shape in a cross section by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis, and the lens has a cross sectional shape by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis. Has a cross section that is substantially elliptical.

  According to this embodiment, a substantially elliptical lens barrel and a substantially elliptical lens are provided, and a lens holding device having a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape as a whole is obtained.

  In one embodiment of the lens holding device, the lens barrel has an inner peripheral surface showing a substantially square shape in a cross section by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis, and the lens has a cross sectional shape by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis. Has a cross-section that is substantially rectangular.

  According to this embodiment, a substantially square lens barrel and a substantially square lens are provided, and a lens holding device having a substantially quadrangular prism shape as a whole is obtained.

In one embodiment of the lens holding device, the outer diameter of the lens is D1 (mm), the inner diameter of one opening in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel into which the lens is press-fitted is D2 (mm), and When the inner diameter of the holding surface of the lens barrel in a state where the lens is not held is D3 (mm),
0.990D1 <D2 <0.995D3 (1)
0.995D1 <D3 <D1 (2)
The above formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied.

  According to this embodiment, since the inner diameter of one opening of the lens barrel exceeds 99% of the outer diameter of the lens, when the lens is pressed into one opening of the lens barrel, this opening is The lens can be press-fitted only by elastic deformation by a dimension smaller than 1% of the outer diameter. Further, since the inner diameter of one opening of the lens barrel is less than 99.5% of the inner diameter of the lens barrel holding surface when the lens is not held, the tapered inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel holds the lens. When not, the shape is tapered from the holding surface toward the opening. Further, since the inner diameter of the holding surface in a state where the lens is not held exceeds 99.5% of the outer diameter of the lens and is less than 100% of the outer diameter of the lens, the holding surface holds the lens. Then, the outer peripheral surface of the lens is held from the outside in the radial direction by elastic deformation.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, the holding surface of the lens barrel has at least one concave portion that is recessed outward in the radial direction and that extends by a predetermined dimension in the optical axis direction and the circumferential direction.

  According to this embodiment, even if there is a difference between the shape of the holding surface and the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the lens, the presence of the recess makes it easier to absorb the difference in shape between the holding surface and the outer peripheral surface of the lens.

  In the lens holding device of one embodiment, since the lens has a chamfered edge, it is easy to press-fit from the opening into the lens barrel.

  Further, in the lens holding device of one embodiment, the two lenses are disposed between at least two lenses press-fitted into the lens barrel and the two lenses adjacent in the optical axis direction. The two lens surfaces facing each other and three or more spheres in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel, the spheres containing a magnetic material.

  According to this embodiment, the three or more spheres serve as a spacer that defines the distance between two lenses adjacent in the optical axis direction, so that a plurality of lenses can be accurately positioned within the lens barrel. . Further, by disposing a magnet that exerts a magnetic force on the sphere outside the barrel, it is possible to restrict the movement of the sphere in the circumferential direction and the radial direction. In other words, the magnetic force of the magnet can position the sphere at a predetermined position and keep the spheres from moving, so that, for example, during assembly, the interval between the lenses can be maintained with high accuracy. This makes it possible to maintain the lens and suppress the lens collapse.

  Further, in the lens holding device according to one embodiment, between the at least two lenses press-fitted into the lens barrel, the contact surface of the positioning portion, and a lens adjacent to the positioning portion in the optical axis direction. And the contact surface, the lens surface of the lens facing the contact surface, and three or more spheres that contact the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. Including.

  According to this embodiment, the three or more spheres are arranged between the positioning unit and the lens, regardless of the lens surface shape (curved surface shape, planar shape, etc.) of the lens and the shape of the positioning unit. It contacts the lens surface, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel, and the contact surface of the positioning portion. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a state in which the distance between the lens and the positioning portion is maintained with high accuracy, and it is possible to suppress lens collapse.

  According to the lens holding device of the present invention, the lens is press-fitted into the lens barrel in the direction in which the inner diameter of the tapered inner peripheral surface increases from one opening, and the lens is brought into contact with the positioning portion at a predetermined position. And the holding surface comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lens to hold the lens. Therefore, a holding state in which the lens is held at a predetermined position in the lens barrel can be easily and reliably achieved, and the lens can be positioned with high accuracy. When the lens is press-fitted from one opening in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel, the tapered inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel increases in diameter toward the other in the optical axis direction. The risk that the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel is shaved can be suppressed. Therefore, stable lens press-fitting and lens holding with respect to the lens barrel can be realized. At the same time, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of tilting of the lens due to the influence of shaving and the like, and the possibility that the shaving and the like adheres to the lens surface, thereby preventing deterioration of the optical characteristics.

  In addition, when there are three or more spheres containing a magnetic material as a spacer for defining the distance between the lenses, the position of the sphere can be controlled from the outside of the lens barrel by magnetic force. It is possible to suppress the lens collapse due to the lens without being related to the shape of the lens surface (curved surface shape or planar shape). In addition, one opening of the lens barrel is narrow because it serves as an inlet for press-fitting. However, when three or more spheres are used as spacers, they are arranged in the lens barrel as compared with a ring-shaped spacer. It becomes easy.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a lens holding device as a first embodiment of the present invention. Here, the longitudinal section is a section by a plane including the optical axis J. In this lens holding device, one lens 11 is held in the lens barrel 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lens 11 is a biconvex lens having one convex lens surface 11B and the other convex lens surface 11C in the optical axis direction. The lens barrel 12 is hollow and has one opening 14 in the optical axis direction and the other opening 15 in the optical axis direction. The opening 15 is narrower than the opening 14. The lens barrel 12 extends from the opening 14 to the other side in the optical axis direction, and from the tapered inner peripheral surface 16 to the other side in the optical axis direction. And a holding surface 17 that holds the lens 11 in contact with the outer peripheral surface 11A of the lens 11 from the outside in the radial direction.

  The lens barrel 12 also has a positioning portion 18 that forms the other opening 15. The positioning portion 18 has an abutting surface 18 </ b> A that forms the other end portion of the lens barrel 12 in the optical axis direction and extends radially inward substantially orthogonal to the holding surface 17. The contact surface 18A contacts the other convex lens surface 11C in the optical axis direction of the lens 11 to position the lens 11 in the optical axis direction.

  In this embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral surface 11A of the lens 11 is also substantially cylindrical. The inner diameter of the opening 14 is smaller than the outer diameter of the lens 11 by a predetermined dimension. The holding surface 17 forming the inner wall of the lens barrel 12 holds the outer peripheral surface 11A of the lens 11 by pressing the outer peripheral surface 11A of the lens 11 radially inward with an elastic restoring force radially inward. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an adhesive 25 is applied to a portion where the peripheral edge of the convex lens surface 11 </ b> B of the lens 11 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 16, thereby strengthening the holding state of the lens 11 to the lens barrel 12. Good. Further, the holding state of the lens 11 to the lens barrel 12 may be made stronger by caulking or the like.

  In this embodiment, the lens 11 is press-fitted into the tapered inner peripheral surface 16 from the opening 14 of the lens barrel 12. The lens 11 may be a resin lens or a glass lens. The outer diameter D1 (mm) of the lens 11 is larger than the inner diameter D2 (mm) of the opening 14 of the lens barrel 12 by a predetermined dimension, but the difference between the inner diameter of the opening 14 and the outer diameter of the lens 11 (D1). -D2) and the material of the lens barrel 12 can be made appropriate to eliminate the risk of the lens barrel 12 being shaved when the lens 11 is press-fitted. That is, the lens 11 can be inserted into the lens barrel 12 without plastically deforming the lens barrel 12, and the lens barrel 12 is only elastically deformed. An example of the material of the lens barrel 12 is resin, but it may be made of metal.

  As a specific example, when the lens 11 is made of glass and the lens barrel 12 is made of a resin such as polycarbonate, the lens outer diameter D1 is 4.0 (mm), and the inner diameter D2 of the opening 14 is 3.6˜. In the case of 3.8 (mm), the lens 11 can be press-fitted without cutting the lens barrel 12. This is due to the selection of an appropriate lens material and lens barrel material, and the setting of the difference between the lens outer diameter D1 and the lens barrel inner diameter D2.

  The lens 11 is inserted into the tapered inner peripheral surface 16 of the lens barrel 12 whose inner diameter is increased from the opening portion 14 having the inner diameter D2 in the optical axis direction until the lens 11 comes into contact with the contact surface 18A of the positioning portion 18. Here, since the inner diameter of the tapered inner peripheral surface 16 increases toward the other side in the optical axis direction in which the lens 11 is inserted, the case where the lens is pushed in the direction in which the inner diameter is narrowed as in a conventional lens barrel. In contrast, it is possible to reduce the risk of the peripheral edge (edge) of the convex lens surface 11C of the lens 11 rubbing the inner wall of the lens barrel 12 strongly, and the risk of scraping the inner wall of the lens barrel 12 can be reduced. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate the influence on the tilt and eccentricity of the lens 11 and the stain on the lens surface due to the occurrence of shavings or the like.

  In the above specific example, the inner diameter D3 (mm) of the holding surface 17 adjacent to the contact surface 18A of the positioning portion 18 of the lens barrel 12 is desirably 3.8 to 4.0 (mm). In the range, the lens 11 is in a state in which only the inner wall of the lens barrel 12 is elastically deformed and the lens can be held by elastic force.

In the lens holding device of this embodiment, the outer diameter of the lens 11 is D1 (mm), and the inner diameter of one opening 14 in the direction of the optical axis J of the lens barrel 12 into which the lens 11 is press-fitted is D2 (mm). When the inner diameter of the holding surface 17 of the lens barrel 12 when the lens 11 is not held is D3 (mm), it is desirable to satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2).
0.990D1 <D2 <0.995D3 (1)
0.995D1 <D3 <D1 (2)

  When these expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied, the inner diameter D2 of the one opening 14 of the lens barrel 12 exceeds 99% of the outer diameter D1 of the lens 11, so that one of the openings of the lens barrel 12 is opened. When the lens 11 is press-fitted into the portion 14, the lens 11 can be press-fitted only by elastically deforming the opening 14 by a dimension smaller than 1% of the outer diameter D 1 of the lens 11. Further, the inner diameter D2 of the one opening 14 of the lens barrel 12 is less than 99.5% of the inner diameter D3 of the holding surface 17 of the lens barrel 12 when the lens 11 is not held. The inner peripheral surface 16 has a tapered shape from the holding surface 17 toward the opening 14 in a state where the lens 11 is not held. Further, the inner diameter D3 of the holding surface 17 in a state in which the lens 11 is not held exceeds 99.5% of the outer diameter D1 of the lens 11 and is less than 100% of the outer diameter D1 of the lens 11. In the state where the lens 11 is held, the surface 17 holds the outer peripheral surface 11A of the lens 11 from the outside in the radial direction by elastic deformation.

  In addition, as a structure of the lens barrel 12 that allows the lens 11 to be pushed and pressed in more smoothly, as shown in FIG. 3, the chamfered portion 36 is formed by chamfering the inner peripheral surface of the opening 14 of the lens barrel 12. It may be formed. The chamfered portion 36 can reduce the difference between the inner diameter D2 of the lens barrel 12 and the outer diameter D1 of the lens 11 at the opening portion 14, can reduce the pressing pressure required for press-fitting, and makes the lens 11 more easily held. Can be pushed in.

  The size and angle of the chamfered portion 36 of the opening 14 shown in FIG. 3 are not particularly limited, but the lens is arranged so that the optical axis of the lens 11 overlaps the central axis of the lens barrel 12 in the opening 14 at the entrance. It is desirable that 11 can be controlled in posture. It is appropriate that the inner diameter D2 of the opening 14 of the lens barrel 12 is approximately equal to the outer diameter D1 of the lens 11 by the chamfered portion 36 of the opening 14. If the inner diameter D2 of the opening portion 14 of the lens barrel 12 is too small than the outer diameter D1 of the lens 11, the effect of the chamfered portion 36 is thin, and if the inner diameter D2 of the opening portion 14 is too larger than the outer diameter D1 of the lens 11, It is easy to be pushed into the lens barrel 12 in a tilted state, and tilt control becomes difficult.

  In the first embodiment, the lens 11 is described as a biconvex lens. However, the present invention can be applied to any lens shape, for example, the lens is a plano-convex lens, a meniscus lens, or an aspheric lens. It doesn't matter. In the above embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 12 has a cylindrical shape. However, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 12 may have an elliptical cylindrical shape or a substantially square cylindrical shape. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the lens 11 was circular, you may make it elliptical or substantially square shape. Further, a circumferential groove (not shown) extending in the circumferential direction may be formed on the holding surface 17 of the lens barrel 12. In this case, the positional deviation of the lens 11 can be suppressed by the circumferential groove of the holding surface 17. Further, chamfering may be performed on at least one peripheral edge of the convex lens surface 11B and the convex lens surface 11C of the lens 11. In this case, it becomes easy to press-fit the lens 11 into the lens barrel 12 from the opening 14.

(Second embodiment)
Next, FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the lens holding device of the present invention. The lens barrel 42 included in the lens holding device according to the second embodiment has a hollow cylindrical shape, and has one opening 43 in the optical axis direction and the other opening 44 in the optical axis J direction. One opening 43 serves as an entrance for press-fitting the lens 41 into the lens barrel 42.

  In the second embodiment, an annular positioning portion 45, which is a separate body from the lens barrel 42, is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the opening 44 of the lens barrel 42. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in that the positioning portion 45 is provided separately from the lens barrel 42.

  On the other hand, the opening 43 of the lens barrel 42 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the opening 14 of the lens barrel 12 of the first embodiment, and the inside of the taper of the lens barrel 42 of the second embodiment. The peripheral surface 46 and the holding surface 47 have the same configuration as the tapered inner peripheral surface 16 and the holding surface 17 of the first embodiment. The lens 41 included in the second embodiment has the same configuration as the lens 11 included in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, the positioning portion 45, which is separate from the lens barrel 42, has a contact surface 45 </ b> A that extends radially inward substantially orthogonal to the holding surface 47. The contact surface 45A contacts the other convex lens surface 41C in the optical axis direction of the lens 41 to position the lens 41 in the optical axis direction. In the second embodiment, since the positioning portion 45 is a separate member from the lens barrel 42, the material of the positioning portion 45 can be different from the material of the lens barrel 42. Then, the positioning portion 45 having the contact surface 45A subjected to extremely high precision processing can be installed independently of the lens barrel 42.

  In general, the lens barrel is mainly manufactured by molding from the viewpoint of cost and ease of manufacture. Further, the lens barrel in the present invention is preferably made of a relatively elastic material such as resin, and can be mainly manufactured by molding.

  However, in the molding process, in the structure in which the contact surface of the positioning portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel, the manufacturing cost increases due to the complicated shape of the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel, and there is a demand for accuracy. growing.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, since the positioning portion 45 having the contact surface 45A has a structure separate from the lens barrel 42, the lens barrel 42 can be formed into a simple cylindrical shape. Becomes easier.

  In this second embodiment, as a stage before the lens 41 is press-fitted from one opening 43 of the lens barrel 42 into the holding position by the holding surface 47 through the tapered inner peripheral surface 46, the positioning portion 45 having the contact surface 45A. Is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the other opening 44 of the lens barrel 42. In the second embodiment, the positioning portion 45 has a ring-shaped contact surface 45A, and the ring-shaped contact surface 45A has the same function as the contact surface 18A of the positioning portion 18 of the first embodiment. It is possible to have

  The shape of the positioning portion is not limited to the ring shape, and may be various shapes such as a film shape, a wire shape, a cube shape, and a spherical shape as long as it plays a role as positioning. .

  In this embodiment, the positioning portion 45 having the contact surface 45A is made of metal, and the thickness and shape of the positioning portion 45 are processed with extremely high accuracy. However, the positioning portion 45 having the abutting surface 45A is not limited to metal, and it is possible to freely select a material such as resin, metal, glass, etc., which is optimal depending on required accuracy and shape. The material can be selected.

  In this embodiment, after the positioning portion 45 having the contact surface 45A is disposed and attached to the inner peripheral surface of the other opening 44 of the lens barrel 42, the lens 41 is mounted in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 42 is inserted and pressed into the holding surface 47 through the tapered inner peripheral surface 46 from the opening 43. Thereby, the second embodiment can realize the holding state of the lens 41 as shown in FIG.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the lens 41 can be held by the elastic force of the lens barrel 42, and the material and shape of the positioning portion 45 having the contact surface 45A are the same. Both can be freely selected. Therefore, the positioning unit 45 can serve as a diaphragm in the optical system, for example. In the second embodiment, a member having a shutter function or the like can be used as the positioning portion 45 having the contact surface 45A. Further, if the contact surface 45A of the positioning portion 45 is a contact surface having a complicated curved surface shape that is in close contact with the lens surface 41C of the lens 41, the positioning function for the lens 41 can be improved.

  Further, as in the second embodiment, when the positioning part 45 having the contact surface 45A is separated from the lens barrel 42, the positioning part 45 having the contact surface 45A is moved by the elastic force of the inner wall of the lens barrel 42. It is good also as the state hold | maintained at the inner peripheral side of the lens-barrel 42. In this case, the lens 41 press-fitted into the holding surface 47 from the one opening 43 is further pushed toward the other opening 44 so that the positioning portion 45 and the lens 41 forming the contact surface 45A are removed from the lens barrel 42. It can be easily removed. Therefore, the lens 41 can be easily reused.

(Third embodiment)
Next, FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a third embodiment of the lens holding device of the present invention. The lens holding device according to the third embodiment has a structure that holds two lenses 51 and 52 in a lens barrel 53. The lens barrel 53 of the third embodiment has a hollow cylindrical shape and has one opening 56 in the direction of the optical axis J and the other opening 57 in the direction of the optical axis. One opening 56 serves as an entrance for press-fitting the lenses 51 and 52 into the lens barrel 53.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first lens 51 is a biconvex lens having one convex lens surface 51B and the other convex lens surface 51C in the optical axis direction. The second lens 52 is a single-convex lens having one convex lens surface 52B in the optical axis direction and the other flat lens surface 52C in the optical axis direction. One opening 56 of the lens barrel 53 is narrower than the other opening 57. The lens barrel 53 is made of a material having an appropriate elastic force, and has a tapered inner peripheral surface 58 whose inner diameter increases from the opening 56 toward the other side in the optical axis direction, and an optical axis extending from the tapered inner peripheral surface 58. And a holding surface 60 that holds the lenses 52 and 51 in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces 52A and 51A of the lenses 52 and 51 from the outside in the radial direction.

  The lens barrel 53 has a positioning portion 61 that forms the other opening 57. The positioning portion 61 has an abutting surface 61 </ b> A that forms the other end portion of the lens barrel 53 in the optical axis direction and extends radially inward substantially orthogonal to the holding surface 60. The contact surface 61A contacts the other convex lens surface 51C in the optical axis direction of the first lens 51 to position the first lens 51 in the optical axis direction.

  In the third embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 53 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral surfaces 51A and 52A of the lenses 51 and 52 are also substantially cylindrical. The inner diameter of one opening 56 is smaller than the outer diameter of the lenses 51 and 52 by a predetermined dimension. The holding surface 60 that forms the inner wall of the lens barrel 53 presses the outer peripheral surfaces 51A and 52A of the lenses 51 and 52 radially inward with an elastic restoring force radially inward. The outer peripheral surfaces 51A and 52A are held.

  In the third embodiment, a ring-shaped spacer 63 is disposed between the first lens 51 and the second lens 52. The ring-shaped spacer 63 has an upper surface 63A as a contact surface that contacts the flat lens surface 52C of the second lens 52, and a lower surface 63B as a contact surface that contacts the convex lens surface 51B of the first lens 51. . The ring-shaped spacer 63 defines the distance between the two lenses 51 and 52 adjacent in the optical axis direction.

  Here, since the spacer 63 determines the distance between the lenses 51 and 52 and the position of the second lens 52, it is desirable that the spacer 63 be a highly accurate processed product. Regardless, the shape need not be limited to a ring shape.

  In the lens holding device of the third embodiment, first, the first lens 51 is positioned by the convex lens surface 51C from the one opening 56 through the tapered inner peripheral surface 58 as described in the first embodiment. The outer peripheral surface 51 </ b> A is held by the holding surface 60 by press-fitting until the contact surface 61 </ b> A comes into contact. Here, the lens barrel 53 has moderate elasticity, and plastic deformation does not occur even when the first lens 51 is press-fitted. The inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 is the narrowest in the opening 56 between the one opening 56 where the lens is press-fitted and the position where the lens is fixed (that is, the holding surface 60). That is, since the lens barrel 53 has the tapered inner peripheral surface 58, the inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 increases as the lens barrel 53 advances from the one opening 56 toward the other opening 57. Is maintained.

  Then, after the first lens 51 comes into contact with the positioning portion 61 and is held by the holding surface 60 at a predetermined position, the ring-shaped spacer 63 is moved from the one opening portion 56 through the tapered inner peripheral surface 58 to the holding surface 60. Until the lower surface 63B is brought into contact with the convex lens surface 51B of the first lens 51. The upper surface 63A of the spacer 63 forms a second contact surface that determines the position of the second lens 52 in the optical axis direction, and also serves to define the distance between the first lens 51 and the second lens 52.

  Next, the second lens 52 is press-fitted from one opening 56 through the tapered inner peripheral surface 58 until it comes into contact with the upper surface 63A of the spacer 63, and the outer peripheral surface 52A is held by the holding surface 60. Here, the outer diameter of the second lens 52 is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 at the lens holding position (holding surface 60), and has a large lens diameter that causes plastic deformation in the lens barrel 53. It does not have.

  As described above, the second lens 52 is also held in the lens barrel 53 in the same manner as the first lens 51. In the third embodiment, both the first lens 51 and the second lens 52 can be held with the inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 as a reference, and there is no indefinite tilt generation factor due to the shaving of the lens barrel 53, etc. Assembling can be performed so that the distance between them can be determined with extremely high accuracy.

  In the third embodiment, the positioning portion 61 for positioning the first lens 51 may be formed by a member separate from the lens barrel 53 as in the second embodiment.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the lens holding device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a lens barrel 72 included in the fourth embodiment. Here, the transverse sectional view is a sectional view taken along a plane orthogonal to the direction of the optical axis J.

  The fourth embodiment corresponds to a modification of the first embodiment, and differs from the first embodiment only in that a lens barrel 72 is provided instead of the lens barrel 12. This lens barrel 72 differs from the lens barrel 12 of the first embodiment only in that it has substantially fan-shaped concave portions 74 at three locations in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface 72A. The substantially fan-shaped recess 74 extends by a predetermined dimension in the optical axis direction. Needless to say, the number of the recesses 74 is not limited to three, and may be one or four or more. Of course, the shape of the recess 74 is not limited to a fan shape, and may be a polygonal shape or a semicircular shape.

  The inner peripheral surface 73 of the region where the concave portion 74 of the lens barrel 72 is not formed serves as a holding surface. The inner peripheral surface 73 that forms the holding surface holds the outer peripheral surface 11A of the lens 11 by pressing the outer peripheral surface 11A of the circular lens 11 radially inward with an elastic restoring force. Here, it goes without saying that the lens barrel 72 has the same positioning portion as that of the lens barrel 12 and its contact surface, and the lens 11 is positioned in the optical axis direction by this contact surface.

  According to this embodiment, even if there is a difference between the shape of the inner peripheral surface 73 that forms the holding surface and the shape of the outer peripheral surface 11A of the lens 11, there is a difference between the holding surface 73 and the holding surface 73. It becomes easy to absorb the difference in shape from the lens outer peripheral surface 11A. For example, even if the lens outer peripheral surface 11A is not circular but polygonal (for example, a quadrangle), the lens outer peripheral surface is held by the holding surface 73 and can be accommodated in the concave portion 74 as long as the lens outer surface 11A is in the lens barrel 72. It can be held.

  Further, in the fourth embodiment, when the lens barrel 72 and the lens 11 are bonded with an adhesive, the recess 74 can be used as a liquid reservoir for the adhesive, and there is an advantage that the adhesive can be easily applied. . In the cross section shown in FIG. 6, the three inner peripheral surfaces (holding surfaces) 73 in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 72 have a circular cross section if the outer peripheral surface 11 </ b> A of the lens 11 comes into contact therewith. It is not necessary and may have a polygonal shape such as a quadrangle.

  The structure of the lens barrel 72 having a recess on the inner wall as in the fourth embodiment can also be adopted in the lens barrels of the second to third embodiments. As described above, in the first to fourth embodiments, the lens can be positioned with extremely high accuracy by the contact surface of the positioning portion, and the lens can be used when the shape of the contact surface is changed. It is also possible to give the positioning portion a role as an aperture used in a lens optical system such as a camera. In addition, the cross-sectional shapes of the lens and the lens barrel in the present invention are not particularly limited, and it is possible to configure a lens holding device having the same effect as described above even if it is an ellipse, a rectangle, or other special shapes.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section of a fifth embodiment of the lens holding device of the present invention. The lens holding device according to the fifth embodiment corresponds to a modification of the above-described third embodiment. The fifth embodiment is different from the third embodiment described above in that three or more spheres 83 containing a magnetic material are provided instead of the ring-shaped spacer 63 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the same parts as those in the third embodiment in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different parts from the third embodiment will be mainly described.

  In the fifth embodiment, three or more spheres 83 containing a magnetic material are disposed between the first lens 51 and the second lens 52. The spherical body 83 is in contact with the flat lens surface 52C of the second lens 52, the convex lens surface 51B of the first lens 51, and the holding surface 60 that forms the inner wall of the lens barrel 53. The three or more spheres 83 define the distance between the two lenses 51 and 52 adjacent in the direction of the optical axis J.

  Here, the three or more spheres 83 serving as spacers determine the distance between the first lens 51 and the second lens 52 and the position of the second lens 82. Therefore, it is desirable that the sphere 83 is a highly accurate processed product. The material of the sphere 83 may be any material that satisfies the required accuracy and includes a magnetic material.

  In the lens holding device according to the fifth embodiment, first, the first lens 51 is positioned by the convex lens surface 51C through the tapered inner peripheral surface 58 from the one opening 56 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. The outer peripheral surface 51 </ b> A is held by the holding surface 60 by press-fitting until the contact surface 61 </ b> A comes into contact. Here, the lens barrel 53 has moderate elasticity, and plastic deformation does not occur even when the first lens 51 is press-fitted. The inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 is the narrowest in the opening 56 between the one opening 56 where the lens is press-fitted and the position where the lens is fixed (that is, the holding surface 60). That is, since the lens barrel 53 has the tapered inner peripheral surface 58, the inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 increases as the lens barrel 53 advances from the one opening 56 toward the other opening 57. Is maintained.

  Then, after the first lens 51 comes into contact with the positioning portion 61 and is held by the holding surface 60 at a predetermined position, three or more spheres 83 are inserted from one opening 86. Here, a ring-shaped magnet 88 is disposed so as to surround the outer peripheral surface 53A of the lens barrel 53, and the ring-shaped magnet 88 is positioned at a position in the optical axis direction of the three or more spheres 83. Accordingly, the three or more spheres 83 are brought into contact with the convex lens surface 51B of the first lens 51 and the holding surface 60 forming the inner wall of the lens barrel 53 by using the magnetic attraction force of the ring-shaped magnet 88. Make contact. The three or more spheres 83 serve to define the distance between the first lens 51 and the second lens 52.

  Next, the second lens 52 is press-fitted from one opening 56 through the tapered inner peripheral surface 58 until it comes into contact with the sphere 83, and the outer peripheral surface 52 </ b> A is held by the holding surface 60 that forms the inner wall of the lens barrel 53. Here, the outer diameter of the second lens 52 is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 at the lens holding position (holding surface 60), and has a large lens diameter that causes plastic deformation in the lens barrel 53. It does not have.

  As described above, the second lens 52 is also held in the lens barrel 53 in the same manner as the first lens 51. In the third embodiment, both the first lens 51 and the second lens 52 can be held with the inner diameter of the lens barrel 53 as a reference, and there is no uncertain tilt generation factor due to the shaving of the lens barrel 53 or the like. In addition, since the sphere 83 that defines the lens interval is fixed by the magnetic attractive force from the outside of the lens barrel 53, it is possible to assemble so as to determine the distance between the lenses with extremely high accuracy. .

  In the fifth embodiment, the three or more spheres 83 are arranged between the positioning portion 61 and the first lens 51, and the three or more spheres 83 are arranged on the contact surface 61A and the lens surface. 51C and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 53 may be brought into contact with each other. In this case, the three or more spheres 83 serve as spacers that define the distance between the contact surface 61A of the positioning portion 61 and the first lens 51 with high accuracy. Further, the three or more spheres 83 may be disposed between the first lens 51 and the second lens 52 and disposed between the positioning unit 61 and the first lens 51. Of course. In the fifth embodiment, the first and second lenses 51 and 52 are provided. However, three or more lenses press-fitted into the lens barrel may be provided. In this case, three or more spheres containing a magnetic material are arranged between the lenses, and the spheres are brought into contact with the facing lens surface and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. In addition, the cross-sectional shapes of the lens and the lens barrel in the present invention are not particularly limited, and it is possible to configure a lens holding device having the same effect as described above even if it is an ellipse, a rectangle, or other special shapes.

It is sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of the lens holding device of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the said 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows another modification of the said 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of the lens holding device of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 3rd Embodiment of the lens holding device of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 4th Embodiment of the lens holding device of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the conventional lens holding device. It is sectional drawing which shows 5th Embodiment of the lens holding device of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11, 41, 51, 52 Lens 12, 42, 53, 72 Lens tube 14, 15, 43, 44, 56, 57 Opening 16, 46, 58 Tapered inner peripheral surface 17, 47, 60 Holding surface 18, 45, 61 Positioning portion 18A, 45A, 61A Abutting surface 25 Adhesive 36 Chamfering portion 63 Ring-shaped spacer 72A Inner peripheral surface 73 Inner peripheral surface 74 Recessed portion 83 Spherical body including magnetic body 88 Magnet

Claims (17)

A lens barrel having an opening in at least one of the optical axis directions;
Comprising at least one lens press-fitted into the barrel from the one opening,
The lens barrel is
A tapered inner peripheral surface having an inner diameter increasing from the one opening to the other in the optical axis direction;
A holding surface that extends from the tapered inner circumferential surface toward the other side in the optical axis direction and holds the lens in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the lens from the outside in the radial direction;
Further, the positioning unit includes a contact surface that extends inward in the radial direction intersecting the holding surface and that contacts the other surface in the optical axis direction of the lens to position the lens in the optical axis direction. A lens holding device comprising: The lens holding device according to claim 1,
A plurality of lenses that are press-fitted and fixed in the lens barrel,
The lens holding device further includes a spacer that is disposed between the two lenses adjacent in the optical axis direction and defines a distance between the two lenses. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens holder, wherein the lens is press-fitted into the tapered inner peripheral surface from one opening portion in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel, and is held in the lens barrel by elastic deformation of the holding surface. apparatus. The lens holding device according to claim 2,
The lens holding device, wherein the spacer is integral with the lens barrel. The lens holding device according to claim 2,
The lens holding device, wherein the spacer is separate from the lens barrel. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens holding device, wherein the positioning portion is integral with the lens barrel. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens holding device, wherein the positioning portion is separate from the lens barrel and is attached to the lens barrel. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens holding device, wherein an inner peripheral surface of one opening in the optical axis direction has a chamfered portion. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens holding device, wherein the lens is made of glass or resin. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens barrel has an inner peripheral surface showing a substantially circular shape in a cross section by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis,
The lens holding device according to claim 1, wherein the lens has a cross section having a substantially circular cross section by a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens barrel has an inner peripheral surface showing a substantially elliptical shape in a cross section by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis,
The lens holding device according to claim 1, wherein the lens has a cross section having a substantially elliptical cross section taken along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens barrel has an inner peripheral surface showing a substantially square shape in a cross section by a surface orthogonal to the optical axis,
The lens holding device according to claim 1, wherein the lens has a cross-section in which a cross-sectional shape by a plane orthogonal to the optical axis is a substantially square shape. The lens holding device according to claim 10,
The outer diameter of the lens is D1 (mm), the inner diameter of one opening in the optical axis direction of the lens barrel into which the lens is press-fitted is D2 (mm), and the mirror in a state where the lens is not held. If the inner diameter of the holding surface of the cylinder is D3 (mm),
0.990D1 <D2 <0.995D3 (1)
0.995D1 <D2 <D1 (2)
A lens holding device characterized by satisfying the above expressions (1) and (2). The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens holding device according to claim 1, wherein the holding surface of the lens barrel has at least one concave portion that is recessed outward in the radial direction and that extends by a predetermined dimension in the optical axis direction and the circumferential direction. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
The lens holding device, wherein the lens has a chamfered edge. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
At least two lenses press-fitted into the lens barrel;
Two lens surfaces of the two lenses facing each other and three or more spheres contacting the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are disposed between the two lenses adjacent in the optical axis direction. And
The lens holding device, wherein the sphere includes a magnetic material. The lens holding device according to claim 1,
At least two lenses press-fitted into the lens barrel;
The contact surface of the positioning portion and a lens adjacent to the positioning portion in the optical axis direction and the contact surface, the lens surface of the lens facing the contact surface, and the mirror Three or more spheres that contact the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder,
The lens holding device, wherein the sphere includes a magnetic material.

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